Arizona Transplants

So I've been discovering lately that I actually know a lot more people that live here in LA then I originally thought. They all come here for different reasons; grad school, job opportunity, music and film industry, closer to family and of course just to be able to live in this awesome city.

Last night I met up with a group of University of Arizona alums and other Phoenix friends at a nearby bar. It was so refreshing and fun to be around Arizona people here. It's kinda like the best of both worlds. It's certainly important to go out and meet new people and expand your circle but I also think that that it's great to stay connected with long-time friends too. It's like the song goes, "make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold". I will forever be grateful to my college for introducing me to some amazing friends. I am glad that some of them are here in LA but I wish more would come.

Starring Los Angeles...

It is so neat watching movies that take place in LA now that I actually live here. I am seeing a whole other side to them. I guess it's cause I can relate to them more now. Does that make any sense? They are real-life locations and not just made up in movie land.

Tonight my roommate, Swati and I watched 500 Days of Summer which I love. The main character, Tom, is interested in architecture so LA is certainly another character in this film. It is even better watching movies like this with people who know the city well and can recognize the restaurants and bars in them. Swati definitely recognized a few places in this movie.

I just read this blurb about 500 Days of Summer; David Ng of the Los Angeles Times describes architecture as a star of the film. The film was originally set in San Francisco but was later moved to Los Angeles and the script rewritten to make better use of the location. Buildings used include the Los Angeles Music Center (which includes the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion) and the towers of California Plaza. The older Fine Arts Building is featured in the film, in a scene where Tom shows it to Summer, describes it as "his favorite building" and mentions its builders, Walker and Eisen. Christopher Hawthorne of the Los Angeles Times describes the film as having "finely honed sense of taste" to include the Bradbury Building where Tom goes for his job interview.

Check out this long list for other movies shot in LA: http://www.movie-locations.com/places/usa/la.html

I am still getting to know this crazy city but from what I've seen so far, I think that it has a lot to offer. From the fun and hip downtown, to the laidback beach communities, to the incredible shopping in Beverly Hills and of course the constant supply of restaurants and bars. I don't think that I'll ever run out of new places to check out here. I look forward to seeing a movie or two being filmed around here!

"When you're in Los Angeles, nobody bats an eye, they're so used to seeing actors, they just act really cool." -Luke Wilson

Sweating is healthy!

Sweating is healthy. This is all so good for my body.

I have to keep telling myself this as I sweat buckets and buckets during Bikram yoga. Bikram yoga is one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life. Having said that. it is also something that makes me feel better than anything else that I've ever done. I started going about a year ago. A friend in Phoenix told me how much energy she felt after a class and about all the weight that she had lost. So, I figured that it would be worth a try. I was getting really bored with my workout routine at the gym anyway. Now that I live just steps away from Bikram's World Headquarters, I feel almost obligated to go now. Bikram himself teaches a Saturday morning class that I will definitely attend soon!

Why Bikram Yoga?

Bikram yoga is so good for you. This heated workout helps with deeper stretching, injury prevention, and stress and tension relief. During a class, the 26 postures systematically stimulate and restore health to every muscle, joint, and organ of the body. There are two complementary aspects of these 26 exercises, asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), though many other branches of yoga also use these methods. According to Bikram himself, many people only use up to 50 percent of their lung capacity, and just like any muscle, the lungs must be stretched in order to (through practice) withstand holding more oxygen. With continues practice of the breathing exercises, you will eventually be able to enhance oxygen conversion and absorption, as well as improve overall blood circulation.

Why is blood circulation so good?

Bikram claims that blood circulation is affected immensely during Bikram Yoga because of two processes called extension and compression. These two dynamics are said to work together to deliver fresh oxygen to every joint, muscle, and organ within the human body. While performing a specific asana (pose), the body is stretching or compressing a certain part of the body, thus cutting off circulation temporarily. This restriction of circulation causes the heart to pump more blood in reaction to the shortage. The pumping of excess fresh blood is called extension. Once the asana is complete and the individual comes out of the posture, the new oxygenated blood is able to rejuvenate the arteries that were being compressed. Because of the volume change and influx of fresh blood, it is said that infection, bacteria, and toxins can be released through this process.

Sounds pretty awesome, eh? This is why I put myself through 90 minutes of extreme heat and torture. It's even harder when you don't go very often which was my problem today. I hadn't gone in about a month so it was a rough class for me and I had to sit out a little bit. It was so hot in there that my own necklace was burning my neck! It was definitely over a 100 degrees in there!

"The mind has five aspects which as they develop, bring equanimity to the mind. These are: Faith, Self-control, Determination, Concentration, and Patience. Each of these five develop by practicing Bikram's Yoga. When we're forced to do something that is against our own nature, our soul is unhappy, there is no peace. When the soul is unhappy, pain begins to trouble the body as well. Rather than change your ways to conform with the world, you must eventually find a way to express your truth from your heart regardless of the world." -Bikram

Help a vampire out and give blood!

Ok, so you aren't actually going to be helping any vampires out but you will be helping other people in serious need of blood.

Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person who makes the choice to donate. There is no substitute for that donation. Only 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood and of those only 8% actually do. That amounts to only about 3 out of every 100 people in America donate blood. Can you believe that?! I was shocked to learn that.

From it's beginning, the American Red Cross has formed a community of service, of generous, strong and decent people bound by beliefs beyond themselves. The American Red Cross blood donor embodies this principle. I encourage my readers (wow, that sounds cool) to please help them in the mission to maintain a safe and stable blood supply by making your appointment to donate blood today.

To find out where you can donate, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).

Today I was one of those people and I donated blood. I went to the American Red Cross Center in Santa Monica. Giving blood is something that I've been doing since I was in college. It makes me feel good to know that I could possibly be saving a life with my blood. I actually learned that all the blood given this week will probably be going to Haiti! Isn't that great?! Despite feeling a little lightheaded and weak after, it's a very painless experience.

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it." -Marianne Williamson

One Month Anniversary!

Wow, I've been living here in LA for exactly a month today! That's crazy! It's going by very fast-too fast almost.

Here's a list of all the things that I've done here so far:

• Hiked Runyon Canyon
• Shopped at the Beverly Center
• Gone to a music industry book signing
• Joined LA Fitness
• Had a personal workout with a trainer
• Attended a cardio-kickboxing class with Gina
• Had lunch on Sunset Strip
• Been in one minor traffic jam
• Went to the actual Bikram Yoga studio with Swati
• Hung out in Westwood
• Enjoyed lunch in Culver City
• Watched a UofA game with other alums at a bar in Hermosa Beach
• Enjoyed mimosas at a Hollywood bar
• Drove to Torrance to get a bookcase
• Got an awesome haircut and manicure on Wilshire Blvd.
• Learned exactly where the nearest grocery store, gas station, Kinkos, Target and Post Office is to my house
• Had several great conversations with my roommates. They are awesome and I am so lucky to be living with them!

In the words of my sister, "the best is yet to be". : )

Damn, this is good"

"Damn, this is good." This is what I exclaimed after getting a whiff of the perfume to the right, it's called Nina by Nina Ricci and it's absolutely amazing! It's the perfect combination of fruits and flowers. The bottle is appropriately in the shape of a sweet red apple. Gina was wearing it the other day and I told her that I was in love with either her own scent or her perfume. She then told me about this wonderful perfume. So, thanks to Gina, I have a new scent! If you haven't already smelled Nina, I demand you go and do so now! I hope that you love it as much as I do. But not too much, I don't want us all going around smelling like this. I want to stand out a little.

Not only does Gina smell good and have great taste in perfumes, this girl can cook too! Tonight, she made yummy chicken enchiladas-her specialty! They were so good and were a great meal to end this very busy and active day. It was so sweet of her to make so many for us! Thanks Gina! Feel free to make these again whenever you feel like it.

Tonight I attended a book signing by Donald S. Passman at a small funky book store on Sunset Strip called Book Soup. Thanks to my roommate, Swati, for letting me know about it. I am familiar with Donald S. Passman because he wrote All You Need to Know About the Music Business. It's a great book full of tons of useful music business information. I've learned a lot of it in classes in college but some is new and great to learn coming from someone currently in the industry. He is one of America's top entertainment attorneys. He practices law with the Los Angeles-based firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer, and Brown, Inc. Having specialized in the music business intensively for over thirty years, his clients include major entertainers, publishers, record companies, managers, producers, and others. He is even responsible for the record-breaking "mega" deals for both Janet Jackson and R.E.M. and he has also worked with a number of other major artists. Too bad none of them showed up to share some wisdom at the book signing.

I am glad that I went to hear him talk about his book and the music industry but sadly, I left feeling a little depressed about my job future in the music industry. I should get a job with itunes. They are the # 1 retailer right now, beating out even Walmart! He said that the music industry is in a very awkward stage right now and it will take a few years before things settle down. Everything is digital now and the need for large recording labels is getting smaller and smaller. Musicians can simply go online and put their music on sites like Myspace all by themselves. But on the bright side he did say that the music industry will never die out completely. People are always going to want their music and there will still need to be a way to get it to them. He is sure that in about five years, Cd's won't be made anymore and I totally agree with that. I cannot even remember the last physical CD I bought in a store.

I may be nervous about this business but I also know that I am a passionate person who just loves music and I am fascinated by the general music-making process that musicians go through so I know that I will be an asset in any record company. Hear that guys?! : )

The following are two questions from an interview that I found on his website:

What do you feel is the biggest issue currently facing the legal community in the music industry?

The biggest change in the music industry is going to be what's happening with the Internet and the potential for piracy. We're going to get it first, because audio products will be the first to be downloaded, as MP3 has already proven. It's a serious threat to the industry. Handled right, in the long-term, it becomes a plus, because it's a new way to distribute music. But in the short-term, we're going to have some serious security issues.

How are you advising your clients with regard to the Internet and online music distribution?

The way the world is set up, the record companies control the rights to the recordings, and therefore the only time it comes up is if you're renegotiating with a record company - none of which are willing to give up online rights - so the artists don't end up controlling them, unless they're smaller and are going to put the music out on their own label.

Most of the companies are paying 80-100% of the rate as if it were sold as a CD, and then there's a right to re-negotiate after a period of years or if it becomes a certain percentage of the marketplace, but they try to put a cap on it of 100% of the CD rate, which is probably not fair, because there's no manufacturing, no shipping and no inventory risk, etc.. But it takes time before these things sort themselves out. It's still in its earliest stages; nothing has taken form yet, where they could care less about copyright law. The answer's going to have to come technologically, because the law is going to work as a theoretical matter; but as a practical matter, it's very difficult. It has to be an encryption, where you can only read the music if you've got a key to it - There are some competing ways to do it, but nothing's taken a dominant position yet.

I love the smell of sunscreen in the winter...

Today Gina and I hiked Runyon Canyon. It is a 160-acre park in LA, located at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is a rare example of wild nature, with it's evergreen trees and shrubs only a yard or two from the hustle and bustle of the Hollywood community. The highest point in the park is at an elevation of 1,320 ft and is known as Indian Rock. Because of its proximity to residential areas of Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills, celebrity sightings are not uncommon. However, we don't think we saw any today. We did see lots and lots of beautiful people and highly enjoyed all the man candy! In fact, before we even had been hiking long, I pointed out to Gina that the view was already nice.. haha! : )

The park is also noted for having a fairly liberal dog policy, with dogs allowed off-leash in 90 of the park's 160 acres. And boy were they! We saw some adorable dogs and pretty much any and all breeds were out there. The upper canyon trail is home to a variety of wildlife including birds, owls and hawks; snakes and lizards; and deer and coyote. Additionally, there are several hundred plant species throughout Runyon Canyon including black sage, elderberry, California sagebrush, wild buckwheat, golden yarrow, laurel sumac, scrub oak, sugar bush and toyon. I even saw some cactus but it didn't look quite the same as the cactus back in AZ. I was especially excited to see the "Hollywood" sign so close up and definitely got some good pictures of it. There definitely were a lot of people on the trail, yet the views of the LA /Beverly Hills skyline were so breathtaking that I didn't mind all the people. The hike was not too difficult, but the change in elevation made it a great workout.

Don’t worry – if a tiny little Chiwawa can do it, so can you.